Hello, All



I am having a real issue defining my topic, i thought i was doing well. I got it into specific fields and a rough structure, with key texts and key theories. After speaking with the other students i thought i was level with everyone else. However i had a meeting today with my 2nd supervisor (who is also the head of research school) and it didn’t go very well. i was ready for constructive points on how to make it better or even negative points to change but in a way that will make it better. What i got back was negative feedback with no direction. My topic is a field that he isn’t interested in and it shows when he talks about. The topic is very modern and i will be using various theories and relating it to my new idea. It is 100% original. I have got a 1st supervisor but she is practiced based and my topic is practice and theory. She agrees with alot but doesnt seem to encourage the positive aspects in front of the 2nd supervisor. The practice is something that i think i am good at and have built experience by doing it in my BA and MA. I got a few things out of the meeting, but really feel like throwing in the towel as i have no support.

Alot people say that it is your PHD thesis so you should decide what it is about. But now if feel now that my ideas aren’t good enough. I didn’t have a great interview when i applied for the PHD and the panel questioned things that I didn’t think were important or relevant. The 2nd supervisor was on that interview and i felt at the time was rude. Its knocked my confidence.



I have looked at other universities and can see similar research and seems to be encouraged. There is a field for my research.





Has anyone else had similar issue or any advice on how to tackle this situation.

Hi Tigger,

If it's any consolation, I know exactly how you feel! I have almost the exact same situation! My 2nd supervisor right from the start was not only rude in my interview but then started trying to push me down a trajectory that would align with his research interests and was not massively supportive of my study. My director of studies is lovely but can sometimes be a bit meek and does tend to go along with my bolshier (and in my opinion) often rude 2nd sup. It's been strained with the 2nd sup throughout my phd but it all came to a head a week or so ago when I'd submitted a working field diary with rough notes to myself in it, so consequently it wasn't neat, it wasn't referenced, it was purely to show what I had been doing. The first sup merely commented saying it was a good start but needed work. 2nd sup went to town with the red pen and corrected all my notes even though they were ROUGH and said my writing wasn't up to standard! They were notes! ARGH!

Anyway! I know it might be difficult as you're in the early stages and you might not have developed relationships with your supervisors yet but it might help if you email or arrange to meet with your director of studies and tell her how you feel. I did and although I still have to put up with my 2nd sup for now, I have given a warning that I'm not happy with his attitude. Perhaps you don't need to go as far as saying you're not happy with him per se, but it would help to get your DOS alone and talk with her. Also, do you have a third supervisor who can act as an independent outsider? If not you should have an independent person within your faculty who deals with pastoral support and you can access to talk about problems with your sups.

To be honest, it sounds like you've really done your homework with your research interest so I'd say stick with your idea and defend it til the end! It is your thesis, you are the one who has to work and live with it for 3 years and the one who will defend it at the end. So go for it!

I hope that helps a bit, in fact your 2nd sup sounds so much like mine I'm starting to wonder if we're at the same university and we have the same guy....!

Thank you so much, even hearing that someone else is going through something similar, makes it a bit easier.

My writing was also criticised, which i thought was a low blow. I did my degree and my masters with the same university and the same faculty. I understand that writing a thesis at PHD level the writing should be a higher standard but i am only in three months. I surely cant be expected to have that higher standard in that time.

When we were registering, everyone was told if there was any issues we should contact the head of the research school. But i don't want to labelled as causing trouble.

I have lots of experiences defending subjects and public speaking both at Uni and the work i do Outside the university. But this man, had such an effect on me, i was so nervous (actually shaking) and was close to tears. But i wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

So annoyed !!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you